Any decent free electrical cad programs out there ???

Just looking for something simple........using tinycad now...which is
really more electronics based.....

Would like something to make some schematics and ladder diagrams for
hvac equipment...something with no and nc contacts...some coil
windings.....just basic electrical schematic symbols

thanks

 

[Stephan Rose]

On 15 Jul 2006 18:23:38 -0700, cornytheclown@hotmail.com wrote:

Just looking for something simple........using tinycad now...which is
really more electronics based.....

Would like something to make some schematics and ladder diagrams for
hvac equipment...something with no and nc contacts...some coil
windings.....just basic electrical schematic symbols

Well I am currently developing an EDA app at this moment which you are
welcome to use. If all you need is schematic capture at this moment,
then it has all the capabilities you need. PCB Layout I am still
working on.

All the various symbols, contacts etc. that you need you can easily
define yourself in the symbol editor. Just build your own library of
symbols.

As I haven't needed it yet I have not yet implemented the ability to
actually print a schematic but this would be reasonably easy for me to
implement and if you wanna use it, I would prioritize it and get that
implemented asap. I figure that is something that would be rather
important for you =)

Note however that this app is in development so there will prolly be
the occasional bug and rough edge. I try to do all the testing I can
as best as possible but me being the programmer I am the worst person
to do any testing!! So I am looking for as many people as possible to
work with this and help me test it.

If you are interested, make a post here or send me an e-mail at
kermosATsomrekDOTcom

Screenshots:

http://www.somrek.net/iEDA1.jpg

http://www.somrek.net/iEDA2.jpg

http://www.somrek.net/iEDA3.jpg

Requirements:

Win2000 or XP
DirectX9.0c with latest MDX Update (easily available from microsoft).
..Net Framework 2.0
DirectX9 Compatible video card

--
Stephan
2003 Yamaha R6

kimi no koto omoidasu hi
nante nai no wa
kimi no koto wasureta toki ga nai kara

 

[Robert]

<cornytheclown@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1153013018.045281.172180@m73g2000cwd.googlegroups.com...

Just looking for something simple........using tinycad now...which is
really more electronics based.....

Would like something to make some schematics and ladder diagrams for
hvac equipment...something with no and nc contacts...some coil
windings.....just basic electrical schematic symbols

thanks

Terry Pinnell's CAD list is a good place to start:

http://www.terrypin.dial.pipex.com/ECADList.html

Robert

 

cornytheclown@hotmail.com wrote:

Just looking for something simple........using tinycad now...which is
really more electronics based.....

Would like something to make some schematics and ladder diagrams for
hvac equipment...something with no and nc contacts...some coil
windings.....just basic electrical schematic symbols

To design:
http://www.geda.seul.org/tools/gschem/index.html

And to make PCB -> gerber:
http://sourceforge.net/projects/pcb

And then there's KiCad:
http://iut-tice.ujf-grenoble.fr/kicad/

Platform unix or win32.

 

[JeffM]

using tinycad now...which is really more electronics based
cornytheclown @ hotmail.com

It sounds like you're squawking about having to build your own symbol
library.
Get over it. Everybody who uses a CAD has to do it.
(Some folks will share.)

 

[Chuck Harris]

JeffM wrote:

using tinycad now...which is really more electronics based
cornytheclown @ hotmail.com

It sounds like you're squawking about having to build your own symbol
library.
Get over it. Everybody who uses a CAD has to do it.

Yep! I trusted Orcad's symbol library once... exactly once! The white wires
were manifold.

They did silly things like assume the pin numbering was the same between the
7805, 78M05, 78L05, LM340-T5, ... Diodes with the anode sometimes #1, and the
cathode sometimes #1. LEDs with yet another numbering...

-Chuck Harris

 

[Stephan Rose]

On 17 Jul 2006 16:21:44 -0700, "JeffM" <jeffm_@email.com> wrote:

using tinycad now...which is really more electronics based
cornytheclown @ hotmail.com

It sounds like you're squawking about having to build your own symbol
library.
Get over it. Everybody who uses a CAD has to do it.
(Some folks will share.)

So hey let me ask ya. Is it even worth my effort to try to include a
standard set of symbol libraries?

I don't really have the resources to manually create my own libraries
for every existing component out there so I would need to create my
own libraries based on other existing ones.

 

[Wrighty]

PCBCAD17 off ebay is a great little program and only a few pounds.



cornytheclown@hotmail.com wrote:

Just looking for something simple........using tinycad now...which is
really more electronics based.....

Would like something to make some schematics and ladder diagrams for
hvac equipment...something with no and nc contacts...some coil
windings.....just basic electrical schematic symbols

thanks

 

[JeffM]

Wrighty TOP-POSTED:

PCBCAD17 off ebay is a great little program and only a few pounds.

See. Joining an EXISTING thread
instead of starting your own SPAM thread is just as easy.

Ignoring the contents of Subject line and advertising your payware,
however, puts you right back in the Stupid category.
..
..
Your TOP-POSTING flags you as clueless as well.
http://66.102.9.104/search?q=cache:SXIajvWUVHAJ:groups.google.com/support/bin/answer.py=answer=12348+Tempting-though-it-is-*-*-*-*-*-*+remove-*-*-*-irrelevant+STOP+zz-zz+qq+BOTTOM

 

[JeffM]

It sounds like you're squawking about
having to build your own symbol library.
Get over it. Everybody who uses a CAD has to do it.
JeffM

So hey let me ask ya. Is it even worth my effort
to try to include a standard set of symbol libraries?
Stephan Rose

Imagine who your target audience will be.
Imagine that guy wanting to test-drive your ECAD.
At a miniumum, include enough
so that the experience will not turn him off immediately.

Lack of good libraries (as the OP notes)
could be a big turn-off for some folks.
(You expect to have to DIY on exotic stuff--however...)

Worth noting: EAGLE puts up Share-Your-Stuff pages for its users.
..
..
Have you investigated gEDA and KiCAD?
Is there something in their philosophies
that makes you want to start from zero
instead of contributing to a project with momentum?

 

[DJ Delorie]

"JeffM" <jeffm_@email.com> writes:

Worth noting: EAGLE puts up Share-Your-Stuff pages for its users.
.
Have you investigated gEDA and KiCAD?

Likewise, gEDA has www.gedasymbols.org where people can publish their
personal libraries.

 

[Jim Thompson]

On 18 Jul 2006 13:05:33 -0400, DJ Delorie <dj@delorie.com> wrote:

"JeffM" <jeffm_@email.com> writes:
Worth noting: EAGLE puts up Share-Your-Stuff pages for its users.
.
Have you investigated gEDA and KiCAD?

Likewise, gEDA has www.gedasymbols.org where people can publish their
personal libraries.

The old original PSpice Schematics allows sending your schematic file
in a way that includes all the symbols you used (*.ma).

...Jim Thompson
--
| James E.Thompson, P.E. | mens |
| Analog Innovations, Inc. | et |
| Analog/Mixed-Signal ASIC's and Discrete Systems | manus |
| Phoenix, Arizona Voice480)460-2350 | |
| E-mail Address at Website Fax480)460-2142 | Brass Rat |
| http://www.analog-innovations.com | 1962 |

I love to cook with wine. Sometimes I even put it in the food.

 

[Stephan Rose]

On 18 Jul 2006 13:05:33 -0400, DJ Delorie <dj@delorie.com> wrote:

"JeffM" <jeffm_@email.com> writes:
Worth noting: EAGLE puts up Share-Your-Stuff pages for its users.
.
Have you investigated gEDA and KiCAD?

Likewise, gEDA has www.gedasymbols.org where people can publish their
personal libraries.

Something like that I could easily set up and would be happy to
support. Matter of fact, I would be happy to even support other
packages libraries as long as I can get the appropriate documentation
of their file formats to be able to at the very least import them.

--
Stephan
2003 Yamaha R6

kimi no koto omoidasu hi
nante nai no wa
kimi no koto wasureta toki ga nai kara

 

[DJ Delorie]

Stephan Rose <kermos@somrek.diespammer.net> writes:

Matter of fact, I would be happy to even support other packages
libraries as long as I can get the appropriate documentation of
their file formats to be able to at the very least import them.

gEDA and PCB use open and fully-documented library formats, so no
problem there.

Heck, you could just use the same formats and save yourself some
effort.

 

[Stephan Rose]

On 18 Jul 2006 09:46:24 -0700, "JeffM" <jeffm_@email.com> wrote:

It sounds like you're squawking about
having to build your own symbol library.
Get over it. Everybody who uses a CAD has to do it.
JeffM

So hey let me ask ya. Is it even worth my effort
to try to include a standard set of symbol libraries?
Stephan Rose

Imagine who your target audience will be.
Imagine that guy wanting to test-drive your ECAD.
At a miniumum, include enough
so that the experience will not turn him off immediately.

One question for ya, how much is "enough"? =)

Lack of good libraries (as the OP notes)
could be a big turn-off for some folks.
(You expect to have to DIY on exotic stuff--however...)

I agree with you, and that is one area I have a problem in. I can
handle writing the software, my current goal is a release towards the
end of the year. No problems there at all. Single-handedly writing
applications of this scale is something I do on a regular basis...this
is just the first time I am doing it for my own product.

The symbol libraries and pattern libraries do worry me though. I want
to provide good and accurate libraries but for me to create them by
hand is unfeasible. I have time, but I don't have that much time. I
mean something basic with some basic patterns and components, sure no
problem. But there is no way I could cover even all the standard
components, exotics included, of all the standard manufacturers.

So that essentially leaves me with the following options:

- Import options for libraries from other packages, that I plan to do
anyway. The more the merrier...I currently do support P-CAD ASCII and
definitely have interest in supporting more, documentation is hard to
find though.

- Using existing libraries from say another package, build my own
libraries in my format based on their data. At this point in time
though, I need to trust that their contents are valid and accurate. I
also don't know any potential legal implications in doing something
like that but on the other hand, the symbol definition for a given
chip is the same no matter whose library it is, same for the pattern.
So all the data being copied really isn't anything proprietary. And at
this point in time, that is the most feasible option to me.

- Create a global portal available to all users that initially just
contains a very basic library and give the users the ability to expand
it and/or add additional libraries. Anything added to this portal is
instantly available to all other users. So over time the libraries
will grow in content and accuracy. Users would still of course still
have the ability to have their own private libraries locally.

This however would not truly be feasible until I have enough cash-flow
to support the required server infrastructure for something like that
so it is more something to consider for future expansion rather than
the beginning.

Worth noting: EAGLE puts up Share-Your-Stuff pages for its users.

See above =)

.
.
Have you investigated gEDA and KiCAD?
Is there something in their philosophies
that makes you want to start from zero
instead of contributing to a project with momentum?

Nothing to do with their philosophies, I just simply don't work for
free. I have a car payment, rent to pay, etc. And I would much rather
make my living off my own product than being employed at some random
company working my butt off for some salary while the company gets
rich off my work. =) For those reasons I have no interest in
contributing to open source projects.
--
Stephan
2003 Yamaha R6

kimi no koto omoidasu hi
nante nai no wa
kimi no koto wasureta toki ga nai kara

 

[Stephan Rose]

On 18 Jul 2006 17:04:28 -0400, DJ Delorie <dj@delorie.com> wrote:

Stephan Rose <kermos@somrek.diespammer.net> writes:
Matter of fact, I would be happy to even support other packages
libraries as long as I can get the appropriate documentation of
their file formats to be able to at the very least import them.

gEDA and PCB use open and fully-documented library formats, so no
problem there.

I figured they would so I will definitely be looking into those and
adding support for that.

Heck, you could just use the same formats and save yourself some
effort.

Well not really, one is due to potential legal implications. Secondly,
using someone elses format limits me to what their format is capable
of storing. If I ever implement features that require me to store data
their format cannot handle, I have a problem. Sure I can extend the
format but at this point in time, it is no longer the same and no
longer compatible with the other app.

Plus my format is already defined anyway and is working very nicely!
The format is also designed in such a way that it is usable for
symbols, schematics, patterns, and pcb's (just the stored data
elements change accordingly) to avoid needing multiple file formats
for the various different files.

--
Stephan
2003 Yamaha R6

kimi no koto omoidasu hi
nante nai no wa
kimi no koto wasureta toki ga nai kara

 

[Stephan Rose]

The symbol libraries and pattern libraries do worry me though. I want
to provide good and accurate libraries but for me to create them by
hand is unfeasible. I have time, but I don't have that much time. I
mean something basic with some basic patterns and components, sure no
problem. But there is no way I could cover even all the standard
components, exotics included, of all the standard manufacturers.

err..I meant to say exotics excluded =)

--
Stephan
2003 Yamaha R6

kimi no koto omoidasu hi
nante nai no wa
kimi no koto wasureta toki ga nai kara

 

[JeffM]

I just simply don't work for free. I have a car payment, rent to pay, etc.
And I would much rather make my living off my own product
Stephan Rose

So we're wasting our time on another SPAMMER
who ignored the OP's Subject line.
..

 

[Stephan Rose]

On 18 Jul 2006 14:51:50 -0700, "JeffM" <jeffm_@email.com> wrote:

I just simply don't work for free. I have a car payment, rent to pay, etc.
And I would much rather make my living off my own product
Stephan Rose

So we're wasting our time on another SPAMMER
who ignored the OP's Subject line.
.

I did not ignore the OP's subject line. I offered him to use what I am
developing for free, which agrees with his subject line does it not?

Nor am I offering anything for sale or am selling anything. Yes the
product will be commercial at one point in time, but at this point in
time I am discussing the development of said product and am trying to
get feedback on features and get suggestions from people as to things
they would like to see, not see, etc. This being a EDA CAD newsgroup,
and as such that I am discussing the development of an EDA CAD
program, I am in-line with this newsgroup. Wether or not it will
ultimately be free or not is irrelevant as long as I am not trying to
sell it on here. It is no different than me as a CAD user going to a
forum and discussing a problem I am having with a project I am working
on in said CAD software. Chances are in said example that said project
isn't free or open source either...

Got a question for you though, why is it that you expect me to do my
work for free? Seriously, why?

I assume you do schematics and layout and the like. So tell me, do you
design all your boards for free and distribute the source files along
with every product you ship out? If you don't, why do you expect me
to? How is my job any different than yours?

--
Stephan
2003 Yamaha R6

kimi no koto omoidasu hi
nante nai no wa
kimi no koto wasureta toki ga nai kara

 

[Chuck Harris]

Stephan Rose wrote:

On 18 Jul 2006 14:51:50 -0700, "JeffM" <jeffm_@email.com> wrote:

I just simply don't work for free. I have a car payment, rent to pay, etc.
And I would much rather make my living off my own product
Stephan Rose
So we're wasting our time on another SPAMMER
who ignored the OP's Subject line.
.

I did not ignore the OP's subject line. I offered him to use what I am
developing for free, which agrees with his subject line does it not?

Nor am I offering anything for sale or am selling anything. Yes the
product will be commercial at one point in time, but at this point in
time I am discussing the development of said product and am trying to
get feedback on features and get suggestions from people as to things
they would like to see, not see, etc. This being a EDA CAD newsgroup,
and as such that I am discussing the development of an EDA CAD
program, I am in-line with this newsgroup. Wether or not it will
ultimately be free or not is irrelevant as long as I am not trying to
sell it on here.

The fundamental difference is you are developing a product for sale, and
asking all of us "potential customers" to do your testing and quality control
for free. After we have invested our time and great effort in helping you
develop your product, you plan to then do us the great favor of letting
us pay for a seat.

Yeah...Right!

If you want to keep your product closed, that is fine. Keep it closed,
but pay for your own development... pay for the advice you seek.

It is no different than me as a CAD user going to a

forum and discussing a problem I am having with a project I am working
on in said CAD software. Chances are in said example that said project
isn't free or open source either...

Got a question for you though, why is it that you expect me to do my
work for free? Seriously, why?

The question is turned right back on you fella: Why do you expect us to
be test pilots for your software for free? 80% of any software project
is spent testing and fixing bugs.

I assume you do schematics and layout and the like. So tell me, do you
design all your boards for free and distribute the source files along
with every product you ship out? If you don't, why do you expect me
to? How is my job any different than yours?

With my schematics and layout, my customer has come to me and contracted
for me to do the design and layout. When I finish the work, it belongs
to my customer, so I turn over all of the materials to my customer. In
return, my customer gives me little green pieces of paper.

-Chuck Harris